Chelsea's Lampard hails Barca's Messi

London, May 3 (ANI): Chelsea's Frank Lampard has hailed Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the best player on the planet.

According to The Sun, the England star believes Messi will be the biggest threat to the Blues' hopes of clinching a place in the Champions League final.

Lampard said: "Barcelona are a formidable team. They have such attacking strength with Messi, Henry and Eto'o. And in midfield they have Iniesta and Xabi driving them forward. The passing and movement of them all is top, top drawer."

"But I rate Messi the best. He is the best player in the world without a shadow of a doubt. By a country mile in fact. He is absolutely fantastic. OK, I don't think in the first leg he delivered what people were expecting of him. But believe me the man is a genius and he can explode with a piece of magic that can change a game. He wasn't in top form at the Nou Camp. That could make him all the more determined to produce at the Bridge," he added.

"So whoever plays at left-back for us will have to be at their very best to deal with him."

Lampard says Chelsea are buoyed after securing a 0-0 result in Spain but says the semi-final is still too close to call.

He added: "I don't think anyone is favourite to go through, the match is just so evenly balanced." (ANI)